PROJECT NAME – Run Away From Stress

PROJECT STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

As I have read in “Art, Interaction and Engagement”, Ernest Edmonds claims that “Cybernetics, and the closely related study of Systems Theory, seemed to me to provide a rich set of concepts that helped us to think about change, interaction and living systems (Bertalanffy, 1950; Wiener, 1965). Whilst my art has not been built directly on these scientific disciplines, many of the basic concepts, such as interactive systems and feedback, have influenced the development of the frameworks discussed below”(Ernest Edmonds,2). I started to think about what interactive media actually brings to our life system. While our interaction with the world is not entirely controlled by our subjective consciousness, as in the case of the recent rampant epidemic, we have lost much of our connection with the outside environment, so I wanted to reflect on the relationship between the whole project and the human senses and the outside world through an interactive medium. 
During the pandemic period, we are under different pressures from different aspects, employment, housing, travel, food, and clothing have ushered in new challenges and problems, which invariably bring different impacts on people’s lives, but stress is a very abstract concept, it is invisible and intangible, and we want to specifically target the solution is also a very difficult problem. We wish that the complex and numerous problems could be solved instantly and not overwhelm us. So we want to do a conceptual interactive media design, the pressure we can think of life will be visualized as some small icons, presented in the processing window. his design is intended to express a positive attitude toward the stress of today’s life and sincere hope for the future.

PROJECT PLAN

Step.1 Pressure in our life

This step will use the progressing and distance sensor. When the user approaches the computer, the distance sensor will sense the person and give signals to the computer. Then the dust which symbolizes the pressure in our life will start to gather together on the computer screen and finally becomes a big cloud. This interaction is aiming to embody the stress we have in our life, all the people meet difficulties in life and feel stressed while aging.

Step.2 Scream out the pressure

This step will use the voice sensor and also the progressing. In order to clean up the clouds of dust and relieve the stress, the user should shout loudly while standing in front of the computer screen, then the clouds of dust will become smaller under your voice. Sensing the scream, the voice sensor will deliver signals to the computer so the progressing can give the user reactions. With the screaming of the person, the dust on the screen will decrease gradually until they disappear.

Step.3 Doing exercises to relax

This step will use the muscle sensor and still the progressing. After all the dust disappears, there will appear a beautiful picture on the computer screen as a reword to the user. However, the scene will gradually disappear if you just stand there and appreciate it. In order to keep it existing, the user should wear the somatosensory equipment and make some actions. For example, you can play some sports or do some exercises. Sensing the movements of your body, the muscle sensor will tell the computer to keep the beautiful scene or even change another one for you.

CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE

To talk about my definition of interaction, which includes continuous communication between input and output, human involvement, intention, and communication of an unpredictable and creative response, which can benefit from cybernetics. In this project, communication is continuous during the exercises and screen displays. In “Art, Interaction, and Participation,” Ernest Edmonds suggests that “the physical way in which the audience interacts with a work is a major part of any interactive art system (11). ”  

During the isolation period, thousands of people were closed at home, isolated from the outside world, and lost contact with nature. Human beings are perceptual animals, we are like birds eager to fly in the blue sky, like fish eager to dive into the deep sea, we need to breathe like trees, and relax their lungs, so as to absorb the strength of the mother earth. People achieve many extended interactions in interactive media that go beyond their senses or realize many experiences that are limited to what they cannot feel in the moment. Just like our project, the inspiration inspired by the limitations of the epidemic allows us to reflect and conceptualize how experiences that cannot be felt in the present can be realized indoors, and to build a positive and optimistic attitude towards life while interacting with the media, allowing us to think about how to face strong pressures and how to solve current dilemmas.